Constant Head Method Research Articles

Permeability Measurement of Pervious Concrete by Constant and Falling Head Methods: Influence of Aggregate Gradation and Cement-to-Aggregate Ratio

Permeability Measurement of Pervious Concrete by Constant and Falling Head Methods: Influence of Aggregate Gradation and Cement-to-Aggregate Ratio

Design Constant Head Permeability Meter Digital: A Project-Based Learning Media

The permeability coefficient value is one of the most important parameters in soil mechanics. Quick, simple, and digital direct soil permeability tests in the field are needed to obtain data representing conditions. This research aims to create a portable soil permeability test tool based on microcontroller automation used as a project-based learning for Transportation Cadets peculiarly Palembang Aviation Polytechnic Cadets for new experiences of new learning circumstances. This research method based on the principle of permeability testing using the constant-head method by analyzing the requirements quantitatively. This principle uses water change level parameters, which are used to test the infiltration rate in sample soil. Furthermore, measurements of changes in water level are used by water leveling sensors and processed using Arduino Uno based on fuzzy logic with access to results via the web, tool design, and simulation using SIMULINK software. The results of designing a digital measuring instrument for permeability using the constant head method have been validated for its schematic circuit using SIMULINK and can work without error. In conclusion, a model based on Darcy's Law equation and constant head to find the permeability coefficient can be generated, which can then be a prototype of the tool. It concluded the design of constant head permeability meter digital is useful as project-based leaning media for the Palembang aviation polytechnic. Furthermore, the equipment design will be the first digital measuring tool for permeability coefficient using the constant head method. The design has advantage to measure the soil permeability coefficient at the airport in the fastest way.

Study of Two Different Field Measurement Methods of Infiltration: Falling Head and Constant Head, at Various Hydraulic Head

Two field measurement of infiltration rate methods had been performed on Latosol (Oxic dystrudept) Dramaga Bogor in order to investigate the opportunity to generate different result due to the different of hydraulic head applied and the different way of water was supplied. They were constant head and falling head methods. Falling head method was done in two different ways, namely within a certain time interval and within a certain water level interval. Hydraulic head used during measurement were of 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm. The falling head and constant head method, clearly, generated different minimum infiltration rate values The falling head method measured on a fixed time interval generated almost the same values of minimum infiltration rate, respectively of 4.8 cm hour -1, 5.5 cm hour -1, and 4.8 cm hour -1 at 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm hydraulic head. The falling head method based on bulk water level interval at 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm generated minimum infiltration rate values respectively of 13.2 cm/hour, 12.8 cm/hour, and 18.8 cm/hour. The constant head method at 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm hydraulic head generated minimum infiltration rate values respectively of 11.0 cm/hour, 18.5 cm/hour, and 19.0 cm/hour. The values were higher than of the fixed time interval based falling head method. Infiltration field measurement using the falling head method either based on time interval or water level interval did not show an increasing trend of minimum infiltration rate values due to the increase of hydraulic head. However, the infiltration field measurement using constant head showed an increasing trend of the minimum infiltration rate values due to the increase of hydraulic head.

Assessment of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity with Using Soil Particle Size Distribution: A Comparative Study of Constant Head and Falling Head Methods

<p>The purpose of soil hydraulic conductivity is to retain soil water contents, and soil water pressure. In this study investigates two different methods to understand the soil hydraulic conductivity of loam and clay soils. The present research conducted a laboratory experiment to measure the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) using two different methods: the constant head and falling head methods. The constant head method utilized a soil column with a length of 8.5 cm, and three soil columns were occupied with various soil texture classes (%). The study results demonstrate that the classification of soil texture was predominantly sandy loam with porosity varying between 35%, 43%, and 50% within the clay soil category. Furthermore, the average value of Ksat for the soil samples using the constant head method was 0.00142 cm/sec, while the falling head method provides average values of 0.00123, 0.00172, and 0.00144 for sandy loam and 0.0000146 cm/sec for clay soil. It is concluded that the falling head method indicates greater accuracy, particularly evident in the concurrent analysis of three samples. This study suggested that determination of Ksat through laboratory method is suitable due to cost effectiveness and simplicity.</p>

Estimating Near-Surface Soil Hydraulic Properties through Sensor-Based Soil Infiltrability Measurements and Inverse Modeling

Near-surface soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) are fundamental for describing and predicting water and energy exchange processes, particularly at the soil–atmosphere interface, and regulating evapotranspiration, infiltration, and runoff in different ecosystems. In this study, a new method was proposed to estimate near-surface SHPs by combining sensor-based soil infiltrability measurements with inverse modeling using HYDRUS-2D. The infiltration rate (IR) was estimated by combining the linear source inflow method with image processing, and Ks was estimated from the near-surface steady-state IR (NSIRM). The SWRC parameters described by the van Genuchten model were estimated using the inverse modeling method of HYDRUS-2D for the fitting of sensor-measured infiltration data. Subsequently, the parameters of the van Genuchten model, including α, n, and l, were inversely estimated. Three undisturbed soils, including two stand humus samples from cork oak (Quercus suber L.) and oleander (Pinus tabuliformis L.) stands and one sandy loam from a farmland, were sampled near the soil surface to validate the proposed method. The estimated Ks was evaluated by the constant head method (CHM). The estimated parameters of the SWRC were validated by those determined through the simultaneous measurement of the soil moisture content and water potential using sensor techniques. The results showed that the Ks estimated from the NSIRM for each soil sample were 23.40 ± 1.21, 23.86 ± 1.83, and 22.99 ± 2.26 mm h−1, respectively. In comparison, the Ks determined by the CHM were 24.41 ± 1.53, 24.26 ± 0.37, and 23.81 ± 0.10 mm/h, respectively. The relative errors of the proposed method were 4.14%, 1.64%, and 3.42%, respectively. For the SWRC estimation, the normalized root mean square errors (NRMSEs) between the measurements and the estimates for each soil sample were 0.1724, 0.1454, and 0.0606, respectively. Based on this, the AWC was obtained, and Ku was deduced from the estimated Ks and SWRC parameters for each soil sample. In general, the proposed method successfully estimates near-surface SHPs, simplifies the measurement device, and provides a new perspective for the in situ determination of near-surface SHPs under field conditions in the near future.

Study of the effect of the compaction level on the hydrodynamic properties of loamy sand soil in an agricultural context

Agricultural soil compaction adversely affects crop water use and yield performance and should be avoided or remediated through appropriate soil management strategies. The investigation of the impact of different levels of soil compaction on its hydrodynamic properties remains a crucial step in improving water use and crop yields. We examined five compaction levels of silty sand soil sampled from a potato field in the agricultural regions of northern Quebec (Canada). Soil hydraulic characteristics (saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention capacity) were measured using the constant head method, the HYPROP device, and a WP4C dew point potentiometer. The sixteen hydraulic models integrated into the HYPROP software were fitted to the soil water retention curve (SWRC) data for the studied compaction levels. Statistical parameters such as the mean bias error, mean absolute error, correlation coefficient, and root mean square error were used to measure the performance of the models. The results show that saturated and unsaturated conductivity decreases with increasing soil compaction. The lowest saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) value is observed for the highest level of soil compaction, reflecting a solid medium with less pore space and connectivity. Among the hydraulic models, the Peters-Durner-Iden (PDI) variant of van Genuchten's unconstrained bimodal model (VGm-b-PDI) outperformed all other models for SWRC simulation of different soil compaction levels and was, accordingly, selected as the optimal model. This model was implemented in HYDRUS-1D to estimate the amount of irrigation for different compaction levels. We simulated irrigation scenarios with the dual-porosity model. The results indicated that soil compaction can strongly influence soil hydraulic properties and water differently. However, the amount of irrigation for the potato crop was optimal at a moderate level of soil compaction. Overall, combined HYPROP and HYDRUS 1D can provide helpful information on the soil hydraulics properties dynamics and a rigorous simulation for irrigation planning and management in potato fields.

Effect of Palm Fiber-Hydrated Lime Composition on the Permeability of Stabilised Sandy Soil

Sandy soil is one of the most conventional construction materials used as backfill materials in the retention of structures in foundations. Thisstudy to investigate the composition of admixture permeability experimental to stabilized sandy soil use the composition percentage (4, 6, & 8% hydrated lime only), sandy soil with 2% hydrated lime (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% palm fiber) and 6% of hydrated lime (0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of palm fiber) proportionally. The results presented that the mixture of 2% and 6% hydrated lime with 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% of palm fiber proportionally, decreased the percentage of reduction of permeability from 94.22% at 0 days to 66.67% at 7 days. The mixture of 6% of hydrated lime and 1.5% of palm fiber at 0 dan 7 curing time give a better performance. Thus, this helps in using the constant head method in Geotechnical practices.

Bitumen Stabilised Open Graded Base Materials

Roads play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and providing social advantages in every nation. However, over time, road infrastructure can become outdated. According to studies conducted by World Highways, a road may seem to be in good condition on the surface while hiding a severe issue beneath. As a result, periodic maintenance, repairs, or modernization may be necessary for road structures. The primary purpose of this project was to investigate the effects of permeability on road base materials by removing particles and restoring strength through stabilization with bitumen. Optimum grade 60/70 bitumen was used in compliance with Malaysia JKR specifications to create a realistic case scenario. The formulation excluded open-graded road base material with particles smaller than 1.18 mm or 2.0 mm, and bitumen stabilization levels of 0%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% were implemented to reduce the decrease in mechanical strength. The mechanical strength was determined using the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test, while a Constant Head Method Permeability test was conducted to identify the optimal design mix with the maximum achievable permeability coefficient. The results showed that bitumen stabilization increased the mechanical strength of the road base material, with the highest result compensating for the drop by 8.7%. With open-graded road base material, the permeability can be increased by up to 17.2%. Therefore, open-graded road foundation material with bitumen as a binder for stabilization can be used in the construction of pavements in Malaysia, an area with relatively high rainfall intensity.

Leaching Behaviour of Synthetic Leachate through a Sewage Sludge and Red Gypsum Composite as Intermediate Landfill Cover

This paper examines the environmental impact of the use of compacted sewage sludge:red gypsum (SS:RG) mixture as intermediate landfill cover in terms of yield and quality of leachate as characterised by hydraulic conductivity and leaching behaviour. A series of column tests using the constant head method is carried out by percolating the synthetic leachate through samples that have been compacted at various degrees (60, 70, 75, 80 and 85%). The leachate quality is monitored at pre-determined days for pH, COD, Cu, Fe and Zn. In general, hydraulic conductivity decreases in three stages, in which the first stage is mainly attributed to the particle rearrangement and hydration of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). The hydration of CSH increases the pH, which causes the heavy metal to precipitate and be entrapped within the matrices of CSH gel, thereby further reducing the porosity and hydraulic conductivity. A minimum of 75% compaction has shown favourable final porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and leachate quality, although a minimum of 80% compaction is recommended in order to achieve a satisfactory compressive strength of greater than 345 kPa for a landfill operation.

Spatial relationship of the saturated hydraulic conductivity and rock fragments on the soil surface in an Andean microwatershed

ABSTRACT Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is an important soil variable. Multiple investigations have analysed the influence of rock fragments on saturated hydraulic conductivity, but they hardly involve the spatial component. This research spatially modelled the Ks and its relationship with the contents of rock fragments, organic carbon, and total porosity in the surface horizon of the soils of a tropical Andean micro-basin. Hydrologic response units were used to run a stratified-type sampling. Ks was determined using the constant head method and the total porosity using the tension table. Disturbed samples were used to determine rock fragments and organic carbon content. Results showed that the Ks had an exponential distribution, with high values located in areas of the middle and upper parts of the basin. The distribution was spatially related to the content of rock fragments, the total porosity and the organic carbon content using the spatial autocorrelation model with which it was obtained the best fit results between the observed values of Ks and their predicted values on the soil surface (r = 0.883). The inclusion of these three variables in pedotransfer functions and hydrological models would reduce the uncertainty in estimating the saturated flow of soil water in stony soils.

Permeability coefficient of pervious cement mortar measured by the constant head and falling head methods

The modified previous concrete and cement mortar, known as previous cement mortar (PCM), is designed with a specific composition to create pores. The coarse aggregate is removed to form smaller pore sizes. PCM acts as a water filter, needing higher permeability than cement mortar but less than previous concrete. Its pores drain water while trapping impurities. This study compares the effects of sand-to-cement ratio (S/C), specimen thickness, and age on permeability and porosity. It also contrasts PCM's permeability coefficient determined by constant head and falling head methods. Numerous studies compare permeability coefficients in previous concrete using these methods, but not for finer aggregate cement-based composite materials like previous cement mortar. PCM uses fine aggregate (0.6-0.85 mm) at 3, 5, and 10 cm thickness with S/C ratios of 4 and 5. Findings show that S/C 5 specimens have significantly higher porosity than S/C 4. The S/C ratios notably impact permeability; the higher ratio means the higher permeability. Permeability coefficients for S/C 4 ranging from 0.006-0.075 cm/s, while S/C 5 ranging from 0.010 to 0.147 cm/s. The relationship between the permeability coefficient between the constant head and falling head methods at the age of 90 days specimen are Kc = 1.0516 Kf (S/C 4.2) and Kc = 0.9325 Kf (S/C 5.2). According to these findings, finer aggregates result in a significantly smaller permeability, to the extent that the constant head method is more reliable compared to the falling head method.

Comparison of methods for measuring and investigating water permeability of woven filter media

This paper presents, discusses, and compares three methods for measuring the water permeability of metal woven meshes. Two pieces of equipment were designed for this purpose. The first uses declining pressure – falling head method (FHM). The other uses constant pressure – the constant head method (CHM). The results obtained with these two empirical methods were compared with the fluid flow simulation through the studied samples. The results showed that each studied technique provided valuable and unique information for the water permeability investigation. All three techniques were in good agreement when they all worked under turbulent flow conditions. These conditions were observed for the samples whose pore size was above 30 µm. FHM worked only under turbulent flow. Therefore, it was recommended to work with high permeable samples. The samples whose pore size was below 30 µm required laminar flow. CHM could provide these conditions. This method was also the fastest with the lowest standard deviation value. It is recommended as the basis for forming a standard for measuring the water permeability of woven filter media. Data AvailabilityThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Evaluation of in-situ permeability measurement methods for pervious concrete pavement

ABSTRACT The permeability coefficient is the foundation of evaluating the clogging and maintenance. In this study, 384 field tests were carried out on 9 positions using single-ring and double-ring permeameters with different diameters. Both falling head and constant head methods were evaluated. At the same time, core samples were drilled from the 9 test positions, and their permeability coefficients were measured in the laboratory. The results show that there is a good correlation between falling head method and constant head method, both of them can be used to measure in-situ permeability coefficient of pervious pavement. Although the double-ring method can reduce the transverse seepage inside the pavement, the effect of double-ring permeameters with different cylinder diameters is different, and permeameters with larger cylinder diameters are better. For sites with permeability greater than 2 mm/s, it is not recommended to use permeameters with small cylinder diameters..

Soil Permeability in Various Vegetation Stands at USU Campus Padang Bulan Medan

The University of Sumatera Utara (USU) campus is one of the green campuses with a reasonably high diversity of tree species. The ability of stands on the USU Campus to pass water (soil permeability) must be considered for flood prevention. Soil permeability studies in field surveys were carried out by taking soil samples—determination of soil samples for soil permeability properties based on the constant head method. Soil chemical analysis was carried out for soil organic fraction content and physical properties in soil fraction and texture. The analysis showed that saga stands (SS) showed the highest permeability among mahogany stands (MS), cape stands (CS), glodokan tiang stands (GTS), and oil palm stands (OPS).

Prediction of the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity in a mining area based on CT scanning technology

In an open-cast mining area, large-scale machinery compaction causes severe soil degradation. Exploring the soil hydraulic characteristics at different bulk densities is of tremendous significance for soil restoration and soil hydrological balance in the reclamation area of the destructed land. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is one of the important parameters to characterize soil infiltration capacity. The soil compaction in the mining area significantly affects soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, and its field measurement is very difficult due to the severe soil compaction. Precise prediction of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity is a prerequisite for understanding water movement and solute transport processes. In this study, soil samples taken from the dump site of the Antaibao open-pit coal mine in the Pingshuo mining area of China were prepared in laboratory according to different bulk densities (1.25, 1.3, 1.35, 1.4, 1.45, 1.5, 1.55, 1.6, 1.65, 1.7, 1.75, and 1.8 g cm−3), and the soil saturated water conductivity was measured in laboratory using constant head method. Moreover, the CT scanning technology was used to obtain soil macropore structure, and the fractal dimension of soil macropores was calculated, and the soil saturated water conductivity was predicted based on the fractal dimension. The number of macropores and macroporosity decreased with the increase in the bulk density, and the soil compaction resulted in poor connectivity of the soil macropores. The trend of the soil saturated water conductivity predicted using the CT scanning technique was consistent with that of the measured values in the laboratory under different bulk densities. With the increase of bulk density, the difference between the predicted value and the measured value increased slightly. Overall, a good prediction effect was achieved (R2 > 0.84). The prediction of the soil hydraulic characteristics of compacted soil in mining area based on CT scanning technology was feasible, and it can be applied to the study of practical problems in soil science.

A Comparative Study on Water and Gas Permeability of Pervious Concrete

The water and gas permeability of pervious concrete play essential roles in rainwater infiltration and plant root respiration. In this study, the gas and water permeability of pervious concrete samples were measured and compared. The water permeability was tested using the constant water head method and several water heads were measured for inspection, in which the permeability varied with the application of the pressure gradient. The permeability of gas was measured using a new simple gas permeameter, which was specially manufactured for measuring the gas permeability of pervious concrete under a stable pressure difference. A series of different gas pressure gradients was applied to test whether the gas permeability was a function of the applied pressure. Both the gas and water permeability of pervious concrete were found to decrease with an increased applied pressure gradient, which did not conform to the Klinkenberg effect (gas slippage effect). When comparing the gas permeability and water permeability of pervious concrete, we found that the water permeability was 4–5 times larger than the gas permeability.

The impact of cyanobacteria inoculation on soil hydraulic properties at the lab-scale experiment

Ecosystem-based approaches, including soil inoculation, have been considered to improve the soil water behavior, for the purpose of ensuring better irrigation management on farms. This study was, therefore, conducted to assess the responses of the moisture characteristic curve (MCC) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC) to soil inoculation with cyanobacteria. To this end, the most suitable existing cyanobacteria (i.e., Nostoc sp. and Oscillatoria sp.) from the original soil were inoculated on clay, loam and sand textures at a small cylinder scale. After 35 days, the MCC and SHC of the treatments (six control and inoculation treatments in three repetitions) were measured using the sandbox and pressure plate, and constant head method, respectively. The results showed that, in the control treatment, the volumetric water content of the clay, loam and sand textures was 38–69%, 28–58% and 8–24%, respectively. Meanwhile, the inoculation of cyanobacteria led to a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the MCC of the loam and sand soils; their values were 36–65% and 16–31%, respectively. In the control, the SHC of the clay, loam and sand textures was 0.42, 0.54 and 1.21 cm min−1, respectively; meanwhile, this was 0.37, 0.50 and 0.67 cm min−1 for the inoculated treatments, respectively. On the other hand, the inoculated cyanobacteria reduced the SHC of the sand soils by 44%. We also found that the inoculated cyanobacteria perceptibly improved the soil surface physical and chemical properties, which could play a key role in determining the soil hydraulic and hydrologic behavior. Overall, we found that soil inoculation with cyanobacteria could be an effective approach in improving the soil water behavior, especially in coarse texture soils; thus, it could serve as a suitable irrigation and drainage management method in agricultural lands.

SOIL HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES OF A CHROMIC LUVISOL IN KATUMANI, KENYA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Soil hydraulic parameters in non-saturated conditions are crucial for explaining soil water dynamics in the field. It is therefore necessary to understand the link between soil water potential and hydraulic conductivity in the soil in order to estimate plant available water and hence simulate its movement within the soils. However, measurement of such hydraulic properties in the field and laboratory is somehow difficult, laborious and costly. &lt;strong&gt;Objective&lt;/strong&gt;: To determine soil hydraulic properties of Ferro-chromic Luvisols in Katumani using the RETC code based on pedo-transfer functions; % sand, silt, clay and soil bulk density. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology:&lt;/strong&gt; Undisturbed soil samples were collected from a profile pit at 0-15, 16-30, 31-45 and 46-60 cm depths using core rings for bulk densities and texture determination. Soil water retention curves and saturated hydraulic conductivities (Ksat) were estimated for all the samples using standard suction apparatus and the constant head method, respectively. The air entry suction (α) and pore size distribution (n) were generated using the RETC code. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; The permanent wilting point and field capacity were at 0.081, 0.102, 0.107 and 0.121 and 0.188, 0.225, 0.241, 0.262 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;m&lt;sup&gt;-3 &lt;/sup&gt;H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O, whilst its soil water diffusivity ranged from a low of 6.39, 6.94, 9.03 to a high of 12.5 cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;min&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; in the 0-15, 16-30, 31-45 and 46-60 cm depth, respectively. Ksat values from RETC code ranged from 29 - 48 cm day&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, while the total and readily available water within the soil profile were 330.4 and 214.7 mm H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O, respectively. &lt;strong&gt;Implication:&lt;/strong&gt; The air entry value (α) and pore size distribution (n) implied an almost even distribution from the top and subsequent horizons. The soils ‘field capacity was achieved at pF 2.0 whilst PWP was arbitrary indicated at pF 4.2 reducing the time it takes to calculate irrigation cycles based on the amount of water available to the crops. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; The data indicates that pedo-transfer functions; especially high bulk densities negatively impact on soil hydraulics conductivity.&lt;/p&gt;

A new application of the upward infiltration method to quantify preferential flow hydraulic conductivity on undisturbed soil cores

Soil water preferential flow, PF, is the phenomenon where water moves along certain pathways, while bypassing a fraction of the porous matrix. This work presents a laboratory procedure to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the soil water preferential flow, KPF. Using an upward infiltration curve followed by an over-pressure step, KPF is calculated as the difference between the total hydraulic conductivity, KT, measured with the constant head method, and the soil matrix hydraulic conductivity, Ks, calculated from the inverse analysis of the transient upward infiltration curve. Previous to this analysis, a new approach to detect and remove the effect of possible overpressures due to the soil core placement on the sorptivimeter on the hydraulic properties estimate was presented. This consisted on searching the best fitting between the experimental infiltration curve after removing successive early time steps and the corresponding simulated function. The method to estimate KPF was validated on four different 5-cm height soil columns packed with 2-mm sieved clay loam and loam soils traversed longitudinally by a closed/opened pipe of 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm internal diameter, respectively. This same experiment was also repeated on the same soils without artificial preferential channel. Next, the method was applied on 20 undisturbed soil cores collected from two fields with different grazing intensity and soil tillage management (conventional, CT, reduced, RT and no-tillage, NT, practices). Results showed that correction made to remove the infiltration curve jump due to an overpressure step allowed more accurate and realistic estimates of the soil matrix hydraulic properties. On the other hand, both KT and Ks, which could be satisfactorily calculated from a single upward infiltration curve followed by an overpressure step, where satisfactorily employed to quantify KPF. While no significant effect of grazing intensity on KPF was observed, the CT KPF was significantly larger than those obtained in RT and NT.

Greywater adsorption into soil during irrigation

The reuse of greywater has significant potential to reduce the demand on potable water. The greywater produced from laundry is free from oil and grease and hence makes it attractive to reuse for irrigation. This study investigates the adsorption of surfactant-rich laundry greywater into the soil surfaces during irrigation. A series of miscible displacement column experiments was conducted under water-saturated condition using non-reactive (NaCl solution of concentration 0.650 g/L) and reactive tracers (greywater solution of concentration 0.26–0.442 g/L with same background electrolyte). Plasterer’s sand was used as the porous medium. Samples collected at the column outlet every two minutes were measured for pH, electrical conductivity and greywater concentrations. Hydraulic conductivity for each experiment was also determined using constant head method. Separate experiments were conducted to determine the surface tension of greywater solution (with same background electrolyte) and modelled using Gibbs adsorption isotherm. Surface tension of greywater reduces with increasing greywater concentration and becomes constant at greywater concentration of 0.440 g/L. The results revealed that pH is improved and electrical conductivity decreased indicating it may increase the soil salinity. The comparison of breakthrough curves of reactive and non-reactive tracers showed that the greywater adsorptions occur into the soil surfaces and it increased with greywater concentrations, which may make the soil water-repellent. This may be a concern if soil becomes water-repellent, increases hydraulic conductivity and enhances the risk of groundwater pollution. The concentration of greywater needs to be checked before irrigation and if needed, it should be diluted to avoid any risk of soil water-repellence.